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“Dye-Sensitized Cell Markets –2014,” says that the dye-sensitized cell (DSC) modules market will return to growth and generate revenues of almost $675 million in 2021

Dye Sensitized Modules Markets 2014-2021 ($millions)

NanoMarkets notes that the industry is facing brighter prospects after a brutal industry shakeout that has taken place in the solar business over the past few years.

Glen Allen, Virginia (PRWEB)February 19, 2014

Glen Allen, Virginia: A new report from NanoMarkets titled “Dye-Sensitized Cell Markets –2014,” says that the dye-sensitized cell (DSC) modules market will return to growth and generate revenues of almost $675 million in 2021. NanoMarkets notes that the industry is facing brighter prospects after a brutal industry shakeout that has taken place in the solar business over the past few years. Within its report NanoMarkets takes note of capital investments, growth in manufacturing and new applications where DSC makes a reasonable case. NanoMarkets also believes that DSC will now take over many applications where amorphous silicon (a-Si) was the PV technology of choice. DSC offers the advantages of a-Si but at a lower cost, higher efficiency and the ability to operate well indoors.

The solar industry resurgence is leading to more interest in third-generation PV technologies and DSC technology will be a key beneficiary of this trend. In this report, NanoMarkets assesses the current state of the DSC sector and examines the demand for this power source in portable charging devices, embedded electronics, BIPV, digital signage and other retail applications, sensors, military and automotive applications.

This report draws from NanoMarkets ongoing solar industry research program, but we have also provided a thorough discussion of the latest applications directions, capital investments, performance trends and R&D in the DSC space.

In addition, this report contains updated eight-year forecasts of DSC modules with breakouts for all the major applications listed above. For each of these applications projections are provided in revenue ($ million), power (MW) and module area (square meter) terms. An analysis of the business strategy of each of the major DSC players is also included.

A few years ago it seemed that DSC would not survive commercially. But we now see growing private investment from all over the world. DSC is no longer technology that survives on grants from government agencies. Recent investments have enabled firms such as G24 Power and Exeger to expand their production facilities. For others investment in DSC has provided them with a means to develop new products and improve cell performance. Private firms that have made recent direct investments in the DSC business include: Israel Electric, MTI Partners, Ningbo Hauyou Real Estate (China), Parkwalk Advisors, Romande Energie (Switzerland), Tasnee (Saudi Arabia, Wallenstam (Sweden) and the group of private investors that recently refinanced G24 Power in Wales

Many new applications for DSC modules are also being invented, powering sensors and automotive integrated PV (AIPV) among them. Nonetheless, NanoMarkets says that the DSC business cannot flourish without success in the building integrated PV (BIPV) sector. By 2019, NanoMarkets expects that BIPV will account for 67 percent of revenues. In addition to high efficiency, DSC panels’ advantage in the BIPV space is that they can easily be fabricated to deliver diverse colors, shapes and transparency.

The materials opportunity in the DSC space will remain quite small although materials for DSC cells will approach $170 million by 2021. Although many DSC firms have tended to get their materials from small chemical firms that specialize in selling “R&D” quantities of materials, a few large specialty chemical firms are also interested in this space. These include BASF, Merck and Umicore. Merck in particular has been building DSC partnerships in this space.

While most of the firms active in the DSC space are medium sized firms, the report also notes that there are some giant firms waiting in the wings who could jump in and become industry leaders as the DSC market evolves. These include Samsung SDI, Sharp and Sony.

About NanoMarkets:

NanoMarkets tracks and analyzes emerging markets in energy, electronics and other area created by developments in advanced materials. The firm is a recognized leader in industry analysis and forecasts of in the solar materials industry.